Towel-rack



(NoModeL) J. H. MALLORY.

TOWEL RACK.

N0. Z61',817 Patented Jilly 25,-18'82.

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N. PETERS, Phnm-Lilhognphar. Wahinghm. l C- UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. MALLORY, or LA FORTE, INDIANA.

TOWEL-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,817, dated July 25, 1882.

Application filed April 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES H. MALLoRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Porte, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Towel-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in towel-racks, and has for its object to provide two or more rollers for retaining the towel in a smooth condition and preventing it from becoming lapped over itself.

The invention consists essentially in a towelrack combining in its structure horizontal roller-supportin g arms having elongated bearings, two rollers having journals arranged in said bearings, one of the rollers being adapted to move in its bearings toward and from the other roller, and springs whereby said roller is subjected to pressure.

Other features of the invention will be fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved towel-rack supporting an endless towel. Fig. 2 is an end view of the towel-rack. Fig. 3 represents the frame with the roller support ing arms brought parallel with the bars of the frame and the rollers detached, the said parts being in condition to be packed for transportation. Fig. 4 represents one of the rollersupporting arms.

The'framc of my improved double-roller towel-rack consists simply of a pair of parallel bars. A A, which are connected together by the spindles B of the roller-supporting arms. This frame canbe supported in position upon a wall, door, or in any desired place by means of nails, screws, hooks, or other suitable devices.

The spindles have screw -threaded ends I), which are screwed into the bars of the frame. The screw-threads at the two ends of each spindle run in reverse directions-ethat is to say, each spindle has one right and one left screw-threaded end-so that by turning the spindle the two bars will be drawn together and held firmly against the shoulders I), that are formed on the spindles at the inner ends of their screw-threaded portions.

The roller supporting arms G, which project fitted into the ends of the rollers.

laterally from these spindles, are each formed with a longitudinal slot, 0, in which the journals of the rollers are mounted. A slot or opening, 0, is formed transversely through the upper portion of each one of said arms, in order to allow the roller-journals to be readily and conveniently introduced into their slotted bearings.

It will be seen that the journals of the rollers D have each a head orbutton, d, on the outer end, so that when tllejournals are brought into thelongitudinal slots of their supportingarms these buttons, coming on the outer sides of the arms, will maintain thejournalsin their bearings. It will be evident, however, that in lieu of the openings 0, formed to allow the journals to be passed into the slotted bearin gs, the journals could be made detachable from the rollers, and hence the rollers first placed be; tween the arms and the journals then passed through the longitudinal slots in the arms and Again, a portion of the arm could be cut away and said removed part hinged at one end, so that when required it could be swung up so as to open a passage to the longitudinal slot; but the 0P6Il iug 0 herein shown is the most preferable, it being simple and convenient.

I employ two or more friction-rollers D, instead of one roller, as heretofore used in towelracks, and I provide suitable springs for bringin g the faces of these rollers together, the arrangement of springs herein shown being that of a pair of spring-coils, E, arranged upon the divided portions of each arm and connected at their outer ends by a link. In lieu of the coilspring, a rubber or other elastic spring could be employed. A single spring could, however,

be employed in place of the pair, and also the form of the spring could be considerably varied. When these rollers are mounted on their supporting-arms, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the links connecting the springs will lie against the journals of the inner roller, which latter will be forced by spring-pressure against the outer roller, or the towel that may be between the two rollers.

If the towel F is an endless one, as shown, it becomes necessary to detach from the arms the roller around which the towel passes. This can be expeditiously done be pressing the rollers against the spring resistance until the j ournals of the outer roller are brought to the opening 0, at which point they can be raised from their bearings andthe roller consequently removed.

The two rollers tend to keep the towel smooth and spread out, and prevent it from becoming lapped over itself, as frequently happens where a single roller is employed; and it will be seen that an ordinary straight towel could be held between these friction-rollers, if desired.

In Fig. 3 the arms are shown turned in between the bars, so as to lie parallel therewith. In this waythe rollers and frame can be packed in a small space for shipment.

What I claim is- 1. A towel-rack combining in its structure the horizontally swinging roller supporting arms, pivoted to a frame and provided with slotted bearings, the rollers having journals arranged in said slotted bearin gs, and a spring acting on one of said rollers, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a towel-rack, of a frame adapted for attachment toa door or wall, two roller-supporting arms pivoted to said frame and adapted to swing horizontally, said arms having elongated bearings, two rollers having journals arranged in said bearings, one

witnesses.

of which is adapted to slide in its hearings to- 0 ing on the roller adapted to slide in its bearings, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a towel-rack, of horizontal roller-supporting arms havingelongated bearings, two rollers having journals arranged in said bearings,oneoftherollersbeingadapted to move in its bearings toward and from the other roller, and springs whereby the said roller is subjected to pressure, substantially as described.

4. A knockdown towel-rack consisting of parallel bars A, roller-supporting arms 0, having horizontal slots 0, and spindles pivoted between the bars and adapted to swing between the same, rollers having journals adapted to the slots in the said roller-supporting arms,

and springs carried by the latter and acting on one of the rollers, substantially as described. 5 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing JAMES H. MALLORY.

Witnesses:

HARVEY J osLIN, E. A. MAHER. 

